COMPARABILITY AND REPRESENTATIVENESS OF CLINICAL HOMELESS, COMMUNITY HOMELESS, AND DOMICILED CLINIC SAMPLES - PHYSICAL AND MENTAL-HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND HEALTH-SERVICES UTILIZATION

Evaluating the representativeness of homeless samples is important for generalizing research findings on the homeless and designing interven tions targeting their health needs. The present study contrasts homele ss and domiciled free-clinic users (216 homeless [132 men, 84 women], 212 domiciled [102 men, 110 women]) and 531 community homeless persons (388 men, 143 women) on latent variables representing substance use, mental and physical health, appearance, life satisfaction, and health services utilization (HSU). Homeless clinic patients equalled the comm unity sample in substance abuse and psychological problems but exceede d the sample in HSU and cleanliness. Homeless clinic users reported mo re substance abuse, poorer health, greater mental illness and mental H SU, less cleanliness, and lower life satisfaction than domiciled patie nts. Relationships among the variables are reported, and implications concerning health needs among the homeless are discussed.